For some reason there is something addictive about shopping for survival and camping gear. I regularly spend hours online flipping through reviews or walking through the aisles of my favorite stores. I find it quite gratifying to locate a quality piece of gear and add it to my collection. This includes getting a new tent.
However, there are things that can ruin this sense of accomplishment. One is realizing that you did not get everything you need in your purchase. Last year I found a deal on one of these self-popping tents just big enough for my son and me. I was convinced I got a great deal, and we headed out into the woods to try it out. There was a slight chance of rain overnight, but with a brand new tent I was sure we would be fine. We pitched the tent, lit the campfire, cooked dinner, and curled up for the night.
I will say that the self-popping feature was pretty cool. However, I realized at 3 am that I had made a mistake. I woke up in about two inches of standing water. The floor of the tent was far from waterproof, and I had pitched the tent straight on the ground. We loaded up and slept a few more hours in the car before we headed home. If only I had a good tent footprint to help control this situation.
So a brand new tent should be waterproof, right? That is a very good question. Just about every tent you buy states that they have some level of weatherproofing or waterproofing including on the floor. In addition to worrying about how waterproof your tent actually is, you have to worry about wear and tear on the floor of your tent. Every tent actually has a specific thickness and a waterproof rating that should be listed on the package. This will tell you how durable the floor of your tent will be long term. Obviously, the floor of the tent is vital because you cannot just replace the floor. You must replace the whole thing.
No matter how thick or waterproof the floor of your tent might be, it will face some nasty terrain. There are all kinds of rocks and twigs just waiting to poke holes in your tent. You need to minimize this by being selective about your campsite, but you also need to protect the floor of your tent. Whether you buy a fitted tent footprint or make your own, a tent footprint is a needed piece of gear. In this article, we will discuss different aspects of tent footprints and why they are important.
What is a Tent Footprint?
As we discussed above, you need to have protection for any tent floor. A tent footprint is a sheet of material that is sized to perfectly fit the outline of the base of your tent. Footprints will protect your tent floor from moisture as well as debris that poke holes in tents. In addition to protecting against immediate damage from debris, they also protect against wear and tear that will happen from this debris over time.
Tent footprints can be purchased so they are sized to your particular model of tent. You can also make your own tent footprints with a variety of materials. The important part is that you protect the most vulnerable part of your tent, the floor.
The Golden Rule
You will find lots of different types of tent footprints made from a variety of different materials. They will have different thicknesses and compositions. This will greatly affect the cost of the footprint you buy. The number one rule for tent footprints is that the edges must not extend past the walls of the tent.
If it rains while your tent is set up over a tent footprint, you will have gallons of water running off of the roof and walls of your tent. That water needs to get to the ground and seep in so it does not puddle up. If the edges of your tent footprint go past the walls of the tent, the water will collect on top of the footprint but under the floor of your tent. This water will pool up, and eventually it will seep through most levels of waterproofing.
This is exactly the opposite of what we were trying to achieve with a footprint, so it is a crucial point. If you have a tent footprint that is too large, you can try folding the edges under the tent to size it properly. However, this will never work as well as having a footprint that is the proper size from the start.
Tent Durability
If you really want to break down the need for a good tent footprint, you need to consider the different levels of durability available with tents. This is measured in the industry by Deniers. The higher the denier count is, the longer the tent material will last. You will see by reviewing different tents that higher Denier counts are nicer and more expensive options. For example, you may see a top-of-the-line tent with a Denier count of 75, but a cheaper knock-off has a Denier count of 20. The nicer tent is going to naturally last longer and maintain its waterproofing longer.
Waterproofing
When you buy a tent, you will also notice that they are rated on the level of waterproofing in Millimeters. The figure can be a bit deceiving as millimeters is not the thickness of anything. It describes the amount of pressure needed for the tent to start leaking due to fabric pore expansion.
As you push on any material the fibers spread, and the pores get larger. The larger the pores are, the more likely it is that water can make it through. Tents with floor ratings of 2000 mm are going to require more force to cause a leak versus a tent with a waterproof rating of 1000 mm. Just the fact that this figure is measured and exists tells us that any tent has the potential for leaks, so every tent needs a footprint.
Clear Your Campsite
With or without a tent footprint, most campers do not clear their camping area nearly as well as they should. Before you pitch a tent, you should ensure there is no debris that can do damage. Start by being selective about where you pitch your tent. Rocks and seedlings sticking up out of the ground are the biggest issue. There is no way you will ever get them all cleared, so you are better off picking an alternate spot.
Once you have a spot picked, you will need to clear out any sticks or rocks that are there. For the exact area where the tent will be, this means scanning hands and knees. It may seem like a lot of work, but that is what’s needed to protect your gear. You also do not want to be trying to sleep on those rocks and twigs. Not only will clearing out the area protect against immediate damage, but it will also prevent ongoing wear and maintain waterproofing. If you are careful about where you set up your tent, your gear will last much longer.
Purchase VS DIY
Prices will vary for purchasing a sized tent footprint, but the average cost is about $50. You can buy one from the manufacturer of your tent, or you can try to find an aftermarket tent footprint that perfectly fits your tent. Remember, even if it hangs out just a few inches it will not work. Do not try to save a few dollars by picking a footprint that does not fit quite right.
You can also make your own tent footprint if you want to save some money. This is one good way to ensure that the footprint fits perfectly. You will need to purchase some sort of thick plastic sheeting or tarp that is large enough to cover the area. Since you are making it yourself, the size and shape are more important than the thickness or quality of the material.
Typically tarp material will last longer as it has fibers inside that act like rebar in a concrete wall. They hold everything together making the material more durable. Start by laying out your material flat. Then, place your tent upside down so the tent floor is completely flat and extended on all sides.
Use a marker to line out the edges of your footprint and take your time to be sure you get every edge right. Remove, the tent and cut along your marks so you have your shape cut out. If you are worried about the edges fraying, you can melt the edges with a torch or fold over half an inch and hem it.
Just remember that all of this will keep you from having the same experience of waking up in a small pond inside your tent. If you want to stay dry, get a tent footprint. You can skip this step and may not even have any immediate leaks, but eventually wear and tear will get the best of your tent floor.
What most people don’t realize is that lots of camping gear is built to last a lifetime if it is taken care of properly. We are so used to purchases needing to be replaced constantly that we forget the craftsmanship that comes with many of these brands. I still have outdoor gear that my grandfather used as a child, and it still works great.
Your camping gear is not just a way to stay dry, but it can also mean tradition for your family. Seeing the same tent every year and passing it on to your kids can create memories that are irreplaceable. It just takes some extra steps like adding a tent footprint to ensure that your gear is in it for the long haul.